18 | 2016 | INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR | Cris Derksen | | The JUNO Awards

Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta

Performing from Norway to Australia, Canadian Aboriginal cellist, Cris Derksen, is known for building layers of sound into captivating performances. Coming from North Tall Cree reserve in Northern Alberta her music braids the traditional and contemporary in multiple dimensions, weaving her traditional classical training and her aboriginal ancestry with new school electronics, creating genre defying music. On her third studio album, Orchestral Powwow, Cris has paired up with Tribal Spirit music to create a cinematic symphonic truly Aboriginal album. She has performed with an array of impressive musicians such as Buffy Sainte Marie, Tanya Tagaq, Kinnie Starr and Kanye West.